In 14 direct elimination matches against French clubs in the competition, Stade Toulouse has never lost, like this Sunday against Racing 92 (31-7).
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Received 5/5 in the Champions Cup. Imperial this season on the international scene, Toulouse offered a new demonstration to its public, Sunday April 7, in the round of 16 against Racing 92, winning 31-7. After four improved victories in the group stage and 26 tries scored in these matches (best attack in the competition), the Toulouse residents remained within their offensive standards by flattening the Ile-de-France residents five times. Effective offensively, the winners of the 2021 edition especially impressed defensively by taking out the barbed wire.
Racing five minutes from finishing fanny
The Racingmen also believed for a long time that they would, for the first time in their history in 99 matches in international competition, finish fanny, before finally forcing the Toulouse lock five minutes from time, thanks to Eddy Ben Arous, when the score was already 24-0. A test for honor which prevents the Ile-de-France residents from adding humiliation to a meeting where they were unable to compete against their opponent.
However, Racing 92 started the match with a strong wind at their back, which even pushed Tristan Tedder’s kick-off out of bounds, but never managed to capitalize on it, losing too many balls in the air. Toulouse, conversely, managed to keep the ball and score through Peato Mauvaka following a carried ball (5-0, 6th), then Matthis Lebel after a crossing from Pita Ahki on the left side (10-0 , 34th). A first period marked by the defense of the Haut-Garonnais who left nothing to the Racingmen, like Jack Willis who slipped his hand perfectly to prevent Max Spring from scoring in the middle of the first act.
The bill could have been bigger
With the support of the wind after returning from the locker room, Toulouse was able to increase its domination with a Dupont-Ntamack hinge found and starting for the first time since the return of the opener. Just before the hour mark, Paul Costes came to put an end to any desire for a comeback from his opponents (17-0, 56th). Pita Ahki (24-0, 69th) and Alexandre Roumat (31-7, 80+1st) then added to an addition which could have been heavier with a better success at the foot of Blair Kinghorn (3/6, 7 points left in road).
1/8 final: Antoine Dupont: “we know that we train all year for these matches”
Antoine Dupont looks back on his team’s very good match but also emphasizes that it is only one stage in the Toulouse season. He also looks back on the performance of the Blues in rugby 7s in Hong Kong.
There are therefore still areas of improvement for Toulouse who will host the Exeter Chiefs next week for the quarter-finals and their 200th match on the international scene. But this awkwardness on goal could be resolved by a return of Thomas Ramos, at the opening or at the back. Facing the English who eliminated them in the semi-finals of the 2020 edition, the Toulouse residents will seek to reach the last four of the Champions Cup for the sixth consecutive year. They could then return to UBB, to further improve their almost perfect record in the knockout phase against French clubs in the competition (13 wins, one draw, no defeats).